It might not seem like something your family needs to worry about, but even young children can fall victim to cybercrime. Within this article we share some of the top cybersecurity issues for children and adults to be aware of – and useful tips for staying safe.
Clickjacking
This is when fraudsters disguise links that download malware onto your device or steal your personal information. The links are often made to look like something innocent and tempting such as a funny video, an exciting offer or ‘clickbait’-style article. This type of cyber-attack is common on social media.
What you can do
Warn your child to be careful what they click. Usually with ‘clickjacking’ links there’s something suspicious if you look closely – an offer that’s too good to be true, or a phrase the person who shared it is unlikely to use. If it doesn’t seem right, don’t click on it.
Identity theft
Even children must worry about identity theft as teens are appealing targets for some criminals. Often more trusting than adults, they can be tricked into sharing private information.
What you can do
Make sure your child knows not to give out personal information online. Obviously, they should never share their passwords. But any personal details that would help answer security Questions on their account or profile information – such as their mother’s maiden name? their first pets name? or their postcode – could leave them vulnerable to cybercrime.
Viruses and malware
Make sure your child is aware of the risks of viruses. Opening an infected attachment or visiting a corrupt website could download harmful files onto their device? or yours? leading to fraud, important data being deleted or even your computer being made unusable.
What you can
Install antivirus software on any device your family uses to go online and update it regularly. Tell your child not to turn off your virus scanner and talk to them about the risks. Even with virus protection, make sure your child knows to not download suspicious files or attachments.
Unsafe passwords
Your child’s passwords are the keys to their online life. It’s important to choose passwords that are impossible to guess, and to not use the same password for more than one account. For your child, the passwords to their social media and email accounts are especially important.
What you can do
Talk to your child about how to create a strong password. See our box below for tips about how to do this. Online password generators can help. And remind your child to keep their passwords private – even the best password is useless if it’s shared.
